Radish Cover Crop
- Captures and recycles excess nutrients
- Breaks up soil compaction
- Very large taproot
- Quick to germinate and grow rapidly
- Compatible with numerous other cover crops
- Fleshy, decomposes well
- Produce glycosinolate compounds, which can reduce weeds and nematodes
- Quick canopy to control runoff, reduce soil erosion
- High production of organic matter (biomass)
- Normally winter-kill; no need to spray out; organic friendly.
Deep-Rooted Daikon Radish
Using deep-rooted Daikon Radish (Raphanus sativus var. longipinnatus)as a cover crop is a great way to address many issues in soil. Deep-rooted Daikon Radish works well to alleviate soil compaction and mellow out the soil. It's one root to easy get excited about!
A byproduct of the radish root penetrating deep into the soil is the natural uptake of nitrogen and other nutrients. Daikon Radish will store those nutrients in the plant and following winter-kill releases them for the cash crop to use.
Radishes are also allelopathic. This means that a radish plant excretes a biochemical that will slow or even stop the growth of weed plants around it. Read more from Profesor Ron Morse of VA Tech on how radishes reduce common winter weeds like chickweed.
Coated radish is also an option to consider, especially for aerial seeding. The coating improves ballistics, better seed-to-soil contact, maintains inoculantion, and increases moisture wicking of the seed. Coated seed can help ensure a more even germination over the whole field. Read the Advantages of Coated Grasses and Legume Seed for Cover Crops to learn why coating and proper inoculation can help ensure successful cover cropping.
More Daikon Radish Cover Crop Resources
Forage Radish: New Multi-Purpose Cover Crop for the Mid-Atlantic - A fact sheet put out by Ray Weil, Charlie White, adn Yvonne Lawley of the University of Maryland. Includes description of benefits, numerous photos, planting directions, and tips about how best to grow radishes.
Radish Cover Crop Fact Sheet - A fact sheet put out by Alan Sundermeier of The Ohio State University. Includes descriptions, photos, planting recommendations, management and test results.
Oilseed Radish: A New Cover Crop for Michigan - A fact sheet put out by Mathieu Ngouajio and Dale R. Mutch of Michigan State University. Includes benefits; explaination of nitrate cycling, insect, disease and nematode suppression; and how to fit radish into a cropping system.
Response of Radish to Integrated Use of Nitrogen Fertilizer and Recycled Organic Waste - A study conducted by the University of Pakistan looking at the use of recycled organic waste and its effect on radishes. There may be an application here for cover cropping.